India - China: Shiyan Incident

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh confirmed chasing out a Chinese vessel — Shiyan 1 - that was operating near Port Blair without prior permission and without informing relevant Indian authorities of its plans.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that Shiyan 1 was indeed “conducting acoustic propagation experiments and hydrologic environment measurements on the high seas of the Indian Ocean”. But, the vessel “did not conduct any operations in the Indian EEZ (exclusive economic zone) during the whole process, and only sailed through the Indian EEZ on the way to and from the experimental area”.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) favours freedom of marine scientific research. It also lets coastal states decide on granting permission for marine scientific research by other entities in their exclusive economic zones.

Analysts concede that Beijing is not contesting that provision and that it is merely asserting its rights. As the foreign ministry in Beijing put it, “China has always exercised the freedom of scientific research on the high seas in accordance with the law and fully respects the jurisdiction of relevant coastal states over their scientific-research activities in the waters under their jurisdiction”. Beijing also expressed hope that Delhi will “take a correct view of China’s marine scientific research activities and avoid disturbing normal and lawful maritime activities.”